TENNIS
When is Cori Gauff returning to the tennis courts?
The US Open champion has become one of the main attractions in the sport after winning her first major, but when will she play again?
One year ago, Carlos Alcaraz had his breakthrough moment by winning the US Open, his first Grand Slam tournament at 19. One year later, Coco Gauff has accomplished the same at the same age, being one of the main attractions at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
While it’s true that the American had been very close to winning a major in the past, when she reached the final at Roland Garros in 2022, she didn’t play as consistently as she did in New York a few weeks ago.
Moreover, Gauff had won the Citi Open in Washington DC and the WTA 1000 Cincinnati Open before playing the last major of the calendar, so the Atlanta native was probably in the best moment of her professional career, especially mentally.
In the final, she defeated who was considered the No. 1 favorite to win the title after Iga Swiatek’s elimination, Aryna Sabalenka, in three sets (2-6, 6-3, 6-2), after coming back from losing the first one.
When is Coco Gauff back to the courts?
Gauff, considered the next big thing in the WTA Tour by many before winning the US Open, hasn’t played since winning her first major.
She was expected to feature in the WTA 1000 Guadalajara Open, which is currently underway, but she finally decided to extend her time off. She won’t play in the Pan Pacific Open Tennis in Tokyo either so the American will compete again in the China Open in Beijing.
The tournament will be held for the first time since early 2020, following the coronavirus pandemic, and will take place from September 30 to October 8.
Gauff will be the third favorite in the Chinese event, behind Sabalenka and Swiatek.
After China, the American is expected to feature in the season’s last women’s singles tournament, the WTA Finals, which will be played in Cancun, Mexico.
She will try to improve her performance last year in the tournament, as she lost all her round-robin games in singles and doubles.
Will that be the last time tennis fans see her on a tennis court in 2023? Maybe not. Gauff could decide to feature in the Billie Jean King Cup Finals, which will be held in Seville in November.